Our Opinion: Heed head lice warnings as children head back to school

School is back in session, which means packing lunches, setting out clothes and fitting in dinners between extracurricular activities and homework.

Not to add to parents' stress, but there's one more thing to keep on our radar: head lice.

With September being Head Lice Prevention Month, a representative from the Cole County Health Department speaks at individual schools about prevention and treatment for lice problems.

The department discourages "no-nit" policies, which bar readmission of students found to have lice, eggs, or nits. Nits are lice eggs.

No-nit policies are not recommended by the CDC or the American Academy of Pediatrics, or the Missouri Department of Health ans Senior Services. That's because the burden of unnecessary absenteeism from school, far outweighs the risks associated with lice.

While, head lice have not been shown to cause disease, some children have been known to be absent from school for weeks while treating "nits."

Head lice infestations are found worldwide, but most commonly among preschool- and elementary school-age children. Between 6 and 12 million infestations occur each year in the United States among children 3 to 11 years of age. The little parasites are responsible for 24 million missed school days.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the symptoms of head lice include a tickling feeling of something moving in the hair, itching/irritability, especially while sleeping (when they become active), and sores on the head.

Fortunately, lice are not known to spread disease, and the CDC says they are not spread by pets. The CDC also says that personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.

So what can be done to prevent lice?

Avoid sharing head-touching items, like combs, brushes, hats, towels and even earbuds.

Minimize head-to-head contact between playing children.

Separate personal belongings. Shared spaces - such as lockers, drawers and closets - can be breeding grounds for lice.

So what is a parent to do when their child comes home with an infestation? The common treatment for head lice is medicine that kills the parasites. Both over-the-counter and prescription medication are available.

Head lice can be a hassle, but, armed with information, you can easily prevent or treat the pesky creatures.